I'm a Suburban Housewife

Oh my, this is funny.

Make sure the sound is on and there are no little ears around.



And for the record, this suburban housewife is totally not like that.

I'm more of a vodka gal.

Harmonica Slim

1. She might have been distracted by the crazy syncopation of my snapping.

2. She was definitely offended distracted by my singing, the quality of which we will blame on low video quality.

3. It's hard to hold a camera still when you're snapping and singing.

4. Watch the eyebrows.

5. She's not much for big finishes.

Booga Booga Revisited

I'm having kind of a crap day, so instead of venting, (which I would REALLY like to do, but won't because it will just turn into a rant and that won't do anyone any good) I'm going to post this little bit of sunshine from when Sophie was about five months old.



Neil shot this video while trying to make her laugh with his booga booga face. Part of what's so hilarious for me about this video is that Neil had no idea he was shaking the camera. Pay attention at the 19 second mark, Sophie does her tree frog imitation.

What's funny is that I look back at this video and I think that this is about the time I thought I was starting to figure things out. The newborn crazy was losing its hold on me. Yet here I am, a year and a half later, and I realize the crazy is still around. It has just changed. Changed many times over these months. And every time, I think "whew, barely made it through that stage" and then the next stage hits and I'm like "Fuuuuuck, there's MORE?"

But I do believe I've finally caught on. It's a daisy chain of experiences and there is no winning, there is only surviving.

Now, I'm going to finish the Antony and the Johnsons CD I'm listening to and then I'm going to bed and read Skinned by Robin Wasserman (which so far is pretty awesome) until I fall asleep. Which hopefully will be soon and lets all pray that tomorrow is a better day.

"Some times you eat the bar, and sometimes, well, he eats you.*"

*Extra points for anyone that knows the quote.

The Final Frontier

There has been talk about commercial space flights for years. Until now, it was really more science fiction than reality. But those dreams are finally coming to reality. Virgin Galactic*, a division of Virgin Atlantic, will offer sub-orbital space flight as soon as the end of this year, for the bargain price of $200,000.



I love the idea of outer space. I dream of fantastic worlds millions and millions of light years away. What would they look like? Purple skies, orange seas, six moons? In movies, aliens are always humanoids, but if there are intelligent lifeforms, and with all of the possible worlds out there it seems likely there are, isn't it realistic to think they could be completely different from anything we could possibly even imagine?

Sadly, I think I am more intrigued by the fantasy than the reality. A theme in my life, to be sure. The learnin' and schoolin' to get in to NASA is more than I could commit to, so the idea of a flight that anyone can take is very appealing. You can bet that if I had a spare $200k laying around that I would be on that ship. Of course, I would request a black spacesuit because the white? Does nothing for my hips.

Would you go?

*How much do I love this name?

The Power of Music

This amazing video was taken by a good friend of mine last fall while she was at the Mayo Clinic with her mother for the last of a series of reconstructive surgeries. You can read her inspiring story here.



The couple, Fran and Marlow Cowan, have been married for 62 years. I challenge you not to smile at their antics.

Homecoming

Once a week, I get a sanity outing while Neil watches Sophie. While the gym doesn't really count as a pleasure outing, any time that I get to leave the house on my own is a treat. Not having to lug the big bag, just jumping out of the car and running in, not wondering if I need to take a stroller or if I can carry her. Such luxuries.

While I loved having those hours to myself, coming home to my darling was really freaking awesome.



*I've watched this video about a hundred thousand times and every time it makes me smile.

**Notice she doesn't drop the bag. My girl is all about her accessories.

***My husband just said, "Are you sure you want to post that video? It shows you in those shorts." That's right, someone's in the doghouse.

Where the Hell is Matt?

This is one of the most amazing videos I've ever seen. Seriously. I even teared up a little. Okay, actually I full on cried. What? I'm a little emotional right now. I think I was overwhelmed by all of the different places he visited and how so many people joined in his celebration. Despite the global community that has developed in the wake of the technological revolution, we can be very xenophobic. It is easy to feel like we are so different, that we have nothing in common with those in other parts of the world. The truth is, though, that we are all just people and what more elemental activity is there for people than dance. Enjoy!


Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Check out this site to read Matt's story.

Get Your Goats

To continue with the animal theme, although on the lighter side, here are the fabulous fainting goats:



We saw this on a Mythbusters episode about viral videos. We were absolutely rolling, so I had to go check it out. I have now watched this video about 20 times and I laugh. every. single. time.